In the News

Report Links Illinois to Overseas ‘Sweatshops’

Chicago Public Radio WBEZ 91.5 FM
07/01/2008

Excerpt from article:

A labor-and religious-backed group called SweatFree Communities interviewed workers in nine countries, including China and Honduras. They say factory conditions range from physical abuse to forced overtime. Illinois buys uniforms from at least three companies linked to the factories.

Victoria Kaplan of SweatFree Communities says Illinois ought to join with Pennsylvania, Maine and New York. They’re organizing to clean up the industry...


 

Prius Envy and the Greening of Wal-Mart: A Blind Spot for the Human Cost

GreenBiz.com
06/30/2008

Can it be that our green heroes Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt care about the cachet of owning a Prius but not about the abused workers making these feel-good cars?

A report from the National Labor Committee released earlier this month alleging abusive working conditions in Japanese Toyota Prius plants provides a much needed jolt to the environmental and business communities about the danger of viewing environmental concerns as separate from human concerns.

Elections “neither free nor fair” says Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress, as Attacks on Unionists Continue

ITUC Online
06/30/2008

Brussels, 30 June 2008 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC Zimbabwe affiliate ZCTU has declared the presidential run-off “neither free nor fair” and has deplored continuing violence and threats against trade unionists. Ruling party activists and security forces have orchestrated a national campaign of intimidation in order to ensure that Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party remains in power, with trade unionists amongst the principal victims of the attacks.

Financial Services Committee hears evidence for SEC rule change to level international playing field in oil, gas and mining

Publish What You Pay Coalition Press Release
06/26/2008

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Contact: Allison Lenthall, 703-600-9324, allison [at] kelleycampaigns.com

Sarah Pray, 202-721-5623, spray [at] pwypusa.org

Witnesses explain benefits of EITD Act for U.S. businesses, energy security and international human rights

陕西省成立劳动法诊所 提供免费法律服务

中央政府门户网站
06/25/2008

6月18日，免费为遇到劳动争议的劳动者提供咨询、代理等法律服务的西北政法大学劳动法诊所在该校南校区正式开业启动。据悉，这是陕西省暨全国法学院开办的第一个劳动法诊所。

该诊所是由美国国际劳工权益基金会资助，由西北政法大学经济法学院创办的学生社会实践教学与劳动法律服务机构，服务对象为涉及劳动争议的劳动者，不接受用人单位委托。诊所在运作过程中，将由西北政法大学的专职劳动法教师、专家和专职劳工维权律师指导学生为劳动者提供劳动法律法规咨询、接受劳动者委托担任其劳动争议仲裁、诉讼案件代理人等法律服务。接受劳动争议代理案件的范围为：因确认劳动关系发生的争议；因订立、履行、变更、解除和终止劳动合同发生的争议；因除名、辞退和辞职、离职发生的争议；因工作时间、休息休假、社会保障、福利、培训以及劳动保护发生的争议；因劳动报酬、工伤医疗费、经济补偿或者赔偿金等发生的争议。接受劳动者委托后，诊所将指定1－2名在校大学生作为代理人在律师的指导下出庭代理案件。对于家庭贫困的劳动者，诊所还将提供食宿和交通补助。诊所咨询电话为029－88182625。

美国国际劳工权益基金会律师、劳动法诊所项目官员布朗表示，希望通过该项目在陕西的运作，让处于弱势的劳动者享受到法律代理服务，更好地保护他们的权益。 （记者 李艳 实习生 王菲）

国际劳动者权利基金与我院正式签订“劳动法诊所教学项目”合同

06/25/2008

6月22日胡玉鸿副院长代表我院与代表美国国际劳动者权利基金（International Labour Rights Forum简称ILRF）的Brian先生在苏州饭店正式签订“劳动法诊所教学项目”合同，我院劳动法诊所教学由美国国际劳动者权利基金（ILRF）提供资金支助。

ILRF位于美国华盛顿特区，是专门从事维护劳动者合法权益工作的非政府组织。法律的诊所教学是通过让学生直接参加社会实践而获得法律实践经验和技巧的教学方式，同时又是一种非常昂贵的教学模式。这种教学模式在国际上已经比较成熟，但在我国的法律教学中由于受资金等多方面因素的制约，仍处在尝试阶段。我院的劳动法教学诊所将在2008年10月正式启动。

按照合同，ILRF将为我院劳动法诊所教学提供两年的项目运行经费，支持学生通过为劳动者提供免费的劳动法咨询、劳动仲裁和诉讼而日后成为劳动者合法权利的维护者提供实习经验。

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